Council on Postsecondary Education
Consumer alert issued for fake GED® tests

Kentucky Adult Education, a unit of the Council on Postsecondary Education, issued a consumer alert today regarding fraudulent websites claiming to offer high school and GED® diplomas for a fee through the Internet.

“Kentuckians need to know there is one way to earn a GED® credential and that is through a test administered onsite at an Official GED Testing Center™,” said Reecie Stagnolia, vice president for Kentucky Adult Education.

Only a state may issue the GED® test credential. The GED® tests are not available online as claimed on these websites. The exam, which takes more than seven hours to complete, is administered only at Official GED Testing Centers™.

Many of the same misleading websites also offer GED® instruction for a fee. Kentucky Adult Education offers free instruction online through local adult education centers and offers classes in every Kentucky county. For a limited time, Kentuckians can also take advantage of free GED® testing.

The GED® test consists of a series of five tests that measure achievement in subject areas associated with a high school program of study. The GED Testing Service®, the provider of these tests, has strict policies regarding test administration.

Nearly 800,000 adults across the country take the GED® test each year on their path to better jobs, training and education. In 2010-11, Kentucky Adult Education awarded 10,294 GED® credentials.

The GED Testing Service® has created the first online repository where educators and test-takers can get assistance in spotting a suspicious claim. The site has a list of fraudulent websites, information about how to determine legitimate accreditation, and an area to report suspected fraud. Visit www.GEDtestingservice.com/fraud to learn more and read the press release.

For more information on taking free classes and taking the GED® for free through June 30, 2012, visit www.KnowHow2GOKy.org.

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We believe in the transformative power of postsecondary education. Stronger by Degrees, the new strategic agenda for Kentucky’s colleges and universities and adult basic education, is powering a stronger Kentucky economy and improving the lives of Kentuckians. To learn more about Stronger by Degrees, visit http://cpe.ky.gov/strongerbydegrees.
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